Snippets: Classic Car Enthusiasts

(An Article I Wrote for the Newspaper)

Dale Tramp enjoys old vehicles. Housed in his garage, a 1938 Chevy sedan and a 1949 Ford pickup. The Chevy was recently painted, so it stays in the garage—at least for now. But, once a week, during the summer, he drives his 1949 Ford pickup to work. Dale recalls how he obtained the pickup. He was in Pukwana, South Dakota, taking down a windmill. From his view high above the ground, he could see the top of a vehicle in a grove of trees. After finishing his job, he talked to the farmer about selling the truck, but they couldn’t agree on a price. Dale waited a year and called the farmer back. This time, the owner was willing to sell. But, getting it out was going to be a challenge. “A fifteen-foot tree was growing in the back of the pickup,” Tramp said. The tree had to be cut down before the vehicle could be removed. The truck was then loaded on a trailer and his prize was taken home.

The Ford pickup was considered a “basket case” by those that deal in older vehicles. “You put it in a basket and carry it home,” Dale said, as he chuckled. The pickup needed a lot of work and he was excited to start the restoration. “I did all the work myself, including replacing the motor. I even had to make new motor mounts.” Looking at the Ford today, it is difficult to imagine it was ever in a grove of trees. This was Dale’s first restoration project, but it would not be his last.

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“A friend wanted me to find a Chevy sedan for him from the same year he was born—which was 1938,” Dale said. (In 1938, a gallon of gas cost ten cents. World War II hadn’t started yet and a brand new car cost around $700.00. FDR was President and the Great Depression was nearing an end. You could watch a movie in a theater for five cents.) Dale found just the right vehicle on the internet and his friend bought it. While riding in the Chevy, Dale decided, “I have to have my own ‘38.” So, he began his own search. “For Sale: 1938 Chevy”—the same year, make and model of his friend’s car. At a car show in Minnesota, his search ended. He found just what he was looking for. The Chevy needed a little work, but restoring cars was his hobby. “This is something I can tinker with in the garage,” he said, and then went on to say, “You get behind the wheel and you get a different feeling.” So, whether in the garage or on the road, these old classics bring enjoyment.

Dale has met many individuals over the years. People wave as he drives by. Vehicles like these spark conversations and generate memories. People reminisce about the vehicles that were popular in their own youth, intertwining past and present and creating friendships. “Every car person is nice. I haven’t found a bad one yet,” Dale said.

Dale went on to talk about car shows. “Back to the 50’s” is an annual car show in Minnesota that attracts nearly100,000 people each year. It is hosted by the Minnesota Street Rod Association. There were close to 12,000 cars registered at the 2014 event. If it’s the third weekend in June, you’ll find Dale in St. Paul, Minnesota looking at old cars.

Classic cars increase in value every year,” he said. But that isn’t what motivates this car enthusiast. Even if the cars decreased in value, I suspect Dale would still be looking at, restoring and driving old vehicles.

Randy Tramp

Amazon Review:

It's a military thriller with a heart. Commander Mark Steele has an exciting job in Special Forces. Though it's dangerous, he knows his work is critically important. But that job separates him from his wife and child. When an injury brings him home, his wife is glad to have him back. But other issues cause struggles within the family, leading to distrust and hurt. Steele takes dangerous risks in his new work. The thriller plot thickens, as he seeks to save a life. But can he save his family?

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